The 9 Best Makeup Cases for Travel in 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Béis The Cosmetic Case

$68 At Nordstrom $68 At beistravel.com View On Lyst.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Portability
  5/5

Reliable, stylish, and compact yet spacious, it’s no wonder this easy-to-pack cosmetic case from luggage brand Béis impressed us the most. The main compartment opens and closes smoothly, while a center compartment for brushes and other smaller items can be removed in a snap. There are even multiple additional pockets, pouches, and subtle slots in the bag, so there’s truly a place for everything. We also noticed that, because the interior of the case is so roomy, it’s incredibly easy to see every item inside when fully opened. And speaking of the interior, the bag actually boasts a large attached mirror on the inside, which comes in handy for in-transit makeup application. 

During our five months of tests, the PU leather and hardware worked together to create efficient padding that kept the contents of the case safe and intact through bumps and drops — not to mention, the bag itself still looked good through the wear and tear. On many occasions, we tossed this case in a duffel before going through airport security and boarding a flight, and it still looks good as new. Though $68 may feel a bit pricey for a makeup bag, we felt this case’s thoughtful design and durable construction is worth it. You can grab the case in eight colors ranging from beige to berry.  

The Details: 9.5 x 4 x 7 inches | PU leather, nylon, PVC, poly | Zipper closure

Best for Organization

Relavel Travel Makeup Case

$26 At Amazon View On Relavelbags.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Portability
  5/5

While this case is on the larger side, we felt that ended up being more helpful than hurtful while traveling. We could fit pretty much everything in this thing: a whopping seven palettes, a whole brush collection, two foundation bottles, five toiletry bottles, over 15 lipsticks, an eyelash curler, hair spray, and a travel-sized moisturizer bottle, to be exact. Despite its size, the train case actually remains quite lightweight as well as organized thanks to its adjustable dividers and stretchable pouches on the inside. During our five-month test, we even ended up using this for both makeup and toiletries, since it provides plenty of space.

The interior additionally features layers of protective foam-like material that expertly keeps makeup bottles from cracking. We also found that both the interior and exterior of this case are easy to clean, should a spill or outdoor drop occur. Because it’s a little big, though, we’d recommend packing this case in a carry-on suitcase or even checked luggage rather than a tote or backpack. You can pick this case up in 20 different colors and prints. 

The Details: 10.3 x 9 x 3.7 inches | Nylon | Zipper closure

Best Compact

Dagne Dover Mila Toiletry Organizer

$50 At Nordstrom $40 At dagnedover.com View On Lyst.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Capacity
  4/5
• Design
  5/5
• Portability
  5/5

If you prefer to travel with something more compact, Dagne Dover’s Mila Toiletry Organizer is the best tiny makeup bag we tried. Though it’s by far the smallest pick on our list, we were surprised at just how much it could actually hold. Not only do plenty of palettes, lipsticks, and other essential cosmetics fit inside, but so do full-size makeup brushes. It comes with a removable mini divider set that helps hold items in place, though we liked how much more we could fit in the organizer if we skipped using the dividers. Because it fit so well in the palm of our hands, we had a good time whipping it across the room during our tests — and after being pelted against the wall and floor multiple times, we were amazed to find the organizer still looked fantastic and its contents barely budged. Even when wedged into an absolutely-stuffed-to-the-brim suitcase during our five-month test, the inside is so well-padded that all of our items remained protected and secure. We decided it’s the ultimate makeup bag for shorter trips since it takes up such little space and is super soft and squishable for easy packing. 

The Details: 5.5 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches | Polyester, zinc alloy | Zipper closure

Best Budget

Narwey Travel Makeup Bag

$14 At Amazon $14 At Walmart

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  2/5
• Portability
  5/5

There was something about this bag that just made us feel like we could easily access everything inside — there were no hidden pockets, no tight openings, and no unnecessary flaps that covered up the contents (other than one to protect makeup brushes, but it’s see-through). The zipper opening is easy to maneuver and appears to be well-made, while the canvas frame feels sturdy and protective. The bag got a bit dirty during our tests, but it cleaned up beautifully with minimal effort. We especially loved just how much it could fit: multiple brushes in each of its eight brush pockets, three palettes, three eyeliners, four lipsticks, a mascara, and a lash curler. Perhaps that’s why we were so shocked to discover the bag doesn’t take up much space in our luggage, and it is a fraction of what many other bags on our list cost. 

The Details: 9 x 6.7 x 3.5 inches | Canvas | Zipper closure

Best Pouch

lululemon Go Getter Pouch

$38 At Lululemon

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  4/5
• Portability
  5/5

The feature we found most interesting about this bag is that, when empty, it appears very thin and compact. However, once stuffed with makeup, it actually holds a crazy amount of stuff, including larger items like perfumes, dry shampoos, lotions, and creams. We love the pouch’s nylon construction, which looks sleek and allows dirt and liquids to slide right off. The bag’s lack of padding keeps it lightweight and flexible; we wouldn’t recommend keeping any glass bottles or jars in it, but it’s also not likely to tear, stretch, or snag (that’s lululemon for you!). Because there’s no true framing, the bag is easy to flatten or mold to any space or suitcase. While there is a small exterior zip pocket and an interior mesh one, the pouch really has no built-in organization — though we don’t think that’s a deal-breaker. Get it in gray sage or black.

The Details: 8.7 x 3.3 x 6.3 inches | Polyester, nylon | Zipper closure

Best Train Case

Leatherology Train Case

View On Leatherology.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Portability
  5/5

Easy to clean and pack, we’re obsessed with this cute and compact train case from ultra-reliable Leatherology. It zips open in a way that allows you to see everything inside, plus there are interior pockets of all sizes to help keep everything organized. Though we felt it was slightly flimsy when we first picked it up, we quickly realized it’s sturdier than it looks, and only becomes more so when filled with makeup. Its subtle padding is also no joke, as it completely protected the contents while being thrown around, shaken, and dropped. The exterior leather is soft and supple, the interior lining is high quality, and the main compartment is deep and spacious despite its overall compact size. If you’re looking for a smaller makeup bag that’ll still fit more than just the essentials, we recommend this train case in one of 14 available colors. 

The Details: 7.5 x 5 x 5.2 inches | Leather, nickel | Zipper closure

Best Hanging

Boacay Hanging Travel Toiletry Bag

$20 At Amazon

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Quality
  4/5
• Capacity
  3.5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Portability
  4/5

Travel hanging organizers are a whole different ball game — and once you use one, you may never go back. This one opens up into four large sections, each with a transparent, zippered sleeve to store (and easily see) your makeup and toiletries. Two of the sections have straps to hold products in place, and a hook on the top section allows you to hang the bag anywhere. During our tests, we discovered the bag is sturdy and easy to clean in addition to being large enough for different types of products, from makeup brushes to hairspray.  Even when we packed it to the brim, it still folded up with minimal effort and kept our makeup in place during drop tests. While it’s relatively thin, it is somewhat long and space-consuming, so we’d probably only pack this in a checked bag rather than a carry-on, or use the makeup bag itself as a personal item. Throughout our five months of testing, we did notice that bottles can easily slip out of the plastic pockets if the case is hung up without first zipping the pockets.

The Details: 11.4 x 3.8 x 7.5 inches | Zipper closure

Best Set

Cuyana Leather Travel Case Set

$168 At cuyana.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Quality
  5/5
• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  4/5
• Portability
  5/5

Upon testing, this stood out for two reasons: it comes with not one, but two luxe pouches, and the interior is lined with the same soft leather featured on the exterior. We appreciated how wide both bags open, despite their top-zip construction, making it easy to see everything inside. The larger of the two bags is so spacious, we were able to fit an impressive amount of makeup inside — in fact, we felt we realistically probably wouldn’t even need the smaller bag for makeup, and could instead use it for small toiletries or loan it to a travel companion. There aren’t any dividers or straps inside these bags, so the products inside may shift in-transit if not packed to the brim. Still, we loved the set because it’s one of the nicest-looking options we tried (plus, it comes in 14 gorgeous colors). 

The Details: 12 x 7 x 3.5 inches (large), 8 x 5 x 2.5 inches (small) | Leather | Zipper closure

Best Splurge

Cuyana Travel Beauty Case

View On Cuyana.com

Our Ratings

• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Quality
  4.5/5
• Capacity
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Portability
  4.5/5

If you’re looking for something that does it all and is built to last, consider Cuyana’s Travel Beauty Case. It’s the most expensive option on our list, but after putting it to the test, we believe it’s worth the hefty price tag. The zipper glides smoothly when opening and closing it, the construction is super sturdy, it’s not bulky, it’s packed with pockets as well as a removable pouch, dirt and scuffs are easy to wipe off — we could truly go on and on about this case. But let’s go back to the interior: Though the case is on the smaller side, it boasts plenty of slots for products, including a dedicated pocket and four straps for makeup brushes, a leather flap to protect contents, a small removable pouch for your tiniest cosmetics, and an additional elastic pocket. We felt the leather was quite stiff, which prompted us to get a little rougher with it during our drop and shake tests. Sure enough, it effectively protected the many palettes, lipsticks, tools, and more we placed inside. Even after five months of using the case during our travels, it still looks good as new and has protected all of our items.

The Details: 10.2 x 6.2 x 3.1 inches | Leather | Zipper closure